STUDENTS suffering from the symptoms of hay fever could do worse than expected in exams, according to research.

Pupils who experience hay fever symptoms while taking their GCSE exams are 40% more likely to drop a grade between their mocks and final exams, according to the findings of the study by the charity Education for Health, the University of Edinburgh and Imperial College, London.

This figure rises to 70% if they are taking a sedating anti-histamine treatment, which can cause drowsiness.

Despite guidelines advocating the use of widely-available non- sedating medication, 28% of the students taking medication for their symptoms were on a sedating anti-histamine, the research found.

The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, is the first to look at the impact of hay fever on actual exam performance.

Hay fever has a peak age of onset during adolescence.

GCSE exams, which run from mid-May to the end of June, coincide with the period when the grass pollen season is at its height, and hay fever is therefore most likely.

Campaigners say there may be a case for changing the timings of key exams, given the high numbers of people suffering from hay fever.

“Parents and health professionals need to understand that having hay fever could cause their children to perform less well in their exams and that effective treatments are widely available from their GP, practice nurse or pharmacist,” said the research study’s lead investigator, Dr Samantha Walker.

More than 1,800 students, aged 15 to 17-years-old, took part in the study.

Their exam performance, in mocks and final GCSEs for maths, English or science, were compared with responses to questionnaires on hay fever symptoms on the day of the exam.

The normal expectation is that most children will either achieve their predicted grades or, with increased effort, improve on them when sitting the final exam. Any drop in grade is unexpected.

The study found:

Young people who had hay fever symptoms on an exam day were 40% more likely to drop a grade between their mock and their final exam;

This increased to 70% if they were on a sedating allergy medication at the time of their exam;

Teenagers with severe hay fever, and a history of symptoms in previous years, were twice as likely to drop a grade;

28% of those on hay fever medication in the study were on a sedating anti-histamine, despite the wide availability of effective non-sedating treatments and current treatment guidelines advocating their use over sedating medication.

Campaigners and researchers hope the results of the new study will highlight that hay fever is not a trivial condition, and that the symptoms of it should be taken seriously by both sufferers and healthcare professionals.

With the wide availability of both over-the-counter and prescribed non-sedating medications that can effectively control symptoms, there should no longer be any excuse for hay fever impacting on school, work or other activities, they said.

“The impact of hay fever on school, and in particular exam performance, has been a concern for Allergy UK for a long time,” said chief executive Muriel Simmons.

“The findings of this study will hopefully prompt students to ensure that their symptoms are under control, and that they are not on a sedating medication, which clearly worsens the impact on exam performance.

“If any students are concerned they should contact their pharmacist or GP, or call the Allergy UK helpline number.”

Symptoms of hay fever, which include a blocked nose, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and poor sense of smell, can affect people 24 hours a day.

The most troublesome symptom is nasal congestion, with 85% of people with hay fever suffering from it.

This symptom can have a major impact on the patient’s quality of life, notably emotional function, productivity and the ability to perform daily activities.

Four in 10 people with hay fever say it has a moderate or severe impact on their sleep, correlating to an estimated six million people with hay fever in the UK experiencing sleep disturbance, due to their symptoms.

Sleep disturbance can also have a knock-on effect on the following day, with day-time drowsiness affecting performance at work and, in children, at school.

Old-generation sedating anti- histamines can also lead to drowsiness, and have been found to have adverse effects on attention span, working memory, vigilance and speed, as well as higher levels of fatigue, lower levels of motivation and lower levels of activity, compared to when placebos were used.

Students who are concerned about whether they are on a sedating hay fever medication, or who do not feel their hay fever symptoms are under control, should speak to their pharmacist, GP or practice nurse regarding alternative medication, Allergy UK said.

Allergy UK runs the Allergy Helpline which can be contacted on 01322 619898. The helpline operates from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Teenage agony Hay fever affects nearly four in 10 children;

The peak age of hay fever coming on is in adolescence;

Grass pollen counts are at their highest between mid-May and the end of June;

Around 600,000 GCSE students sit between five and 15 exams in different subjects during a five-week period between early May and the end of June;

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic reaction in the lining of the nose and sinuses leading to inflammation and swelling in the nose. It occurs when the body's immune system over-responds to allergens, such as plant pollens, moulds, dust mites and animal hair and causes swollen membranes in the nose and sinuses;